Fresh Raspberry Sauce is so versatile, use it on ice cream, cheesecake, meringues, chocolate cake and more. And this easy recipe only takes 5 ingredients and 20 minutes!
Frozen Raspberries vs. Fresh Raspberries
Frozen Raspberries: Generally speaking, unsweetened frozen fruit still has just as many nutrients and no additives or preservatives. They will undoubtedly be less expensive than fresh, but not have as much flavor or be as sweet as the natural sugars in fresh since they have had time to develop. Thankfully, this recipe uses sugar, so that combats the issue.
Fresh Raspberries: While I much prefer fresh, they are expensive any time of the year and you’ll need at least two containers, if not three.
Ingredients
In addition to raspberries, the star of the show, you’ll also need these simple ingredients:
- Fresh lemon juice– it is optional, but a little bit of acid brightens up any recipe with fresh flavor. Just like adding wine or vinegar. You can even add a dash of salt to really bring out the flavors.
- Sugar- Used as the sweetener and also gives it the jammy texture you are looking for in a fruit sauce. Granulated sugar is perfect here.
- Water- Prevents the sauce from getting too thick before the raspberries break down. If you want a really chunky sauce, you can certainly omit the water too.
- Cornstarch – This helps thicken your raspberry sauce so it really sticks to the dessert it is intended for. Arrowroot can also be used.
- Unsalted Butter- Added for richness, but can be omitted.
- Fine Sea Salt– Just a pinch goes a long way in this recipe. It helps to balance all of the sweet flavors and brighten natural ones.
Variations
Use any of these variations to make this homemade raspberry sauce recipe your own.
- A splash of orange– Omit the lemon juice, but replace it to with orange juice.
- Up the citrus– Add a few grates of lemon or orange zest foe extra flavor.
- Vanilla- Vanilla compliments nearly any fruit, add a touch of vanilla bean paste or just a drop of vanilla extract.
- Fresh Fruits Blend- Use several different berries or fruits.
How to Use Raspberry Sauce
This delicious raspberry sauce is the perfect topping for any of your favorite desserts. The different ways to use it are endless, but here are a few of my favorite way to use this dessert sauce to add a pop of color:
- Brownies
- Chocolate cake
- Cheesecake
- Vanilla Ice cream
- Meringue
- Dip for fruit or marshmallows
- Waffles
- Dipping sauce for churros
- Biscuits
- Scones
- PB&J sandwiches
- Stack of pancakes
- Angel Food Cake
- Pound Cake
- French toast
- Cake filling
- Coeur a la Creme
Although raspberry topping is a simple recipe and versatile sauce, there are a couple of core facts. The first is that frozen raspberries are going to be cheaper than fresh.
How to Make Easy Homemade Raspberry Sauce
After you get the hang of making fruit sauces, then you can use the same base recipe and technique for nearly any sauce using fresh or frozen fruit, like our Strawberry Topping.
- Combine ingredients. Combine the sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Whisk together. Add the frozen or fresh berries, lemon juice and water, mixing to combine. Increase to medium heat and bring to a low simmer.
- Simmer until raspberries break down. Continue to simmer and stir until the raspberries until have broken down and sauce has thickened and the sugar dissolves. Cook longer for a thick raspberry sauce.
- Add butter and salt. Remove the raspberry mixture from the heat and add the butter and salt. This gives it a richness and balances the sugars.
- Serve and enjoy. Raspberry sauce can be served warm, room temperature or cooled.
Store in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you want a smooth sauce, strain out all the raspberry seeds through a fine mesh strainer. Push the sauce through using the back of a spoon. This will create more of a raspberry syrup as opposed to textural sauce, based on personal preferences.
Storage and Freezing
How to Store
Homemade raspberry sauce will stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Can I Freeze Raspberry Sauce?
Yes, you sure can! This sauce is also freezer friendly if kept in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag (it will expand).
More Dessert Sauces
Sweet sauces are the best! Serve two or three at parties and let your guests have choices!
Fresh Raspberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen raspberries
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- pinch fine sea salt
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and cornstarch in a heavy bottom saucepan. Whisk together. Add the raspberries, lemon juice and water, mixing to combine. Turn on heat and bring to a low simmer.
- Continue to simmer and stir until the raspberries until have broken down and sauce has thickened.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the butter and a tiny pinch of fine salt.
- You can use your raspberry sauce thick and chunky or you can place it in a small food processor to smooth it out. Run through a mesh sieve to remove seeds.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings!
Nutrition
I put this on ice cream and it’s always such a hit!
Just made this and it came out delicious! I can’t wait to put it over chocolate cake, I think the raspberry sauce will be the perfect pair!
This looks delicious! We made strawberry shortcake a lot, but I’d love to change things up and try your raspberry sauce over pound cake with some whipped cream. We pick a lot of berries in the summer and then tend to go bad so quickly, and it is nice to have some options of how to use them.
You can never go wrong with fresh raspberry sauce! This looks delicious!